A Major Operation

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 86, 5 January 1935, Page 16

A Major Operation

4 OME of the old Highland doctors were very shrewd, and the shrewdest of them all was a Dr. McDonald, who telegraphed to Professor Caird, the Edinburgh surgeon,” writes Dr. Halll‘lay Sutherland in his book, “Arches of the Past.” The Professor was at breakfast when the telegram came. “ ‘Come at once, bring trephining instruments.—McDonald.’ “The telegram came from an outlandish place, and the professor looked it up in the Medical Directory. There was a Dr. McDonald practising there, and from the date of his graduation he was one of the old brigade. Professor Caird looked up his itinerary. It was a long journey, and he telegraphed his time of arrival. “The first part of the journey was by rail, the second by steamer, and the third was a ten-mile drive in a wagonette. When the steamer came alongside the pier Professor Caird found the wagonette and an old coachman—but no Dr. McDonald. He entered the wagonette and was driven up a lonely glen. At last curiosity overcame him. ‘Where is Dr. Mc- . Donald ?’ “ ‘Oh, he’ll be meeting you five miles up the glen. Ye ken he was busy the day.’ “ ‘Do you know whom I am going to see? “ ‘Yes, sir, you’ll be seeing the laird. There’s no one else could afford to see you here.’ “ ‘Do you happen to know what’s the matter with the laird?’ “ ‘Oh, yes, sir. They say he’s got a stroke.’ “Professor Caird was puzzled, and remained silent until they met Dr. McDonald. “ ‘Thank you for coming, Mr. Caird.’ “ ‘Not at all. It was good of .you to send for me. And now Dr. McDonald, as we are going along perhaps you’ll tell me about the case.’ “ ‘No, no, professor. It’s not for me to say. What I want is an independent opinion.’ “Late that afternoon the professor saw the laird. He was recovering from a cerebral seizure. He had now recovered his speech and was improving generally. Professor Caird was very annoyed, and took Dr. McDonald into an adjoining room. “ ‘What on earth do you mean by sending for me in such a ease? There

could be no question of an operation. You've treated the man correctly. If you wanted another opinion, why not have had a physician?’ “ ‘Ay, Professor Caird. And could any physician have told me more than you-’ “The professor left the room in disgust, and the old doctor watched him as lie walked up and down the lawn in front of the house. Then he joied him. ‘“You’ll have had your fee, professor. I told the laird it would be two hundred guineas. And you’ll be dining with the family and staying here the night. I’ll send you down the glen in the morning in tbe wagonette.’ “ ‘Thank you very much, doctor. I’m sorry if I was abrupt, but the case is unusual.’ “ ‘That’s all right, professor. As there are two hours before dinner I wonder if you would mind walking up the hill to see a poor crofter? Its a difficult case.’ “Professor Caird saw the patient, who had inflammation of the thigh bone. “‘This man needs an operation. You had better send him to-morrow to Edinburgh. I’ll give him a bed in ray ward.’ “ ‘Ay, but it’s a long journey, and the jolting will give him pain,’ “ ‘Well, well, that can’t be helped. You, must give'him morphia.’ “‘I suppose, Professor, it would be asking too much if I were to ask you to operate now?’ “‘Operate now? How could I possibly operate here? There are no facilities; nothing is ready.’ ‘“No, no, Professor, everything is ready. I have prepared the patient for the anaesthetic. He had a cup of tea. this morning and has had nothing since. There is boiling water and a kitchen table in the next room. And I took the liberty of sending a lad ahead of us from the big house with your bag of instruments.’ “Professor Caird.looked straight at the old Highland doctor, and without a word took oft his coat and operated. “The next morning, as Dr. McDonald said good-bye Professor Caird remarked : ‘This is the queerest consultation I have ever been called to.’ “ ‘Ay,’ was the reply. ‘And, maybe, you would not mind coming backin the same way.’ ”